Surprising facts about plastic usage in Japan

On my first trip to Japan when I went to nearby convenience store to buy some food, I was amazed to see each banana wrapped individually in plastic. Apples, pears wrapped in Styrofoam on a polystyrene tray, then wrapped in plastic film. Initially, I considered that very hygienic and was fascinated about it.

Individually wrapped Banana

Gradually, I began to understand that apart from just hygienic, something big is going on. Japan is obsessed with over usage of plastics in their daily lives.

You can see them everywhere from fruits or vegetables packaging, individually wrapped cookies, chocolates, double or triple layer packaging of bento, plastic bags usage on all stores for shopping, and many more such examples.

This is the reason, why Japan plastic packaging waste contributes to around 70% of all plastic waste generated.

Japan plastic packaging is 70% of overall plastic waste generated

Each vegetable wrapped in plastic

Why does Japan use more plastic?

• Hygiene – Japan is obsessed with hygiene and plastic wrapping ensures quality

• Convenience – Considering Japan’s well-known around the clock convenience, many people wants daily products on the go with high quality. Plastic packaging of all these products makes it accessible. And in the country having around 4.15 million vending machines, it sounds obvious.

• Food presentation and market value – Anything wrapped in plastic gives a premium feel to the product which increases the value

Plastic waste in Japan

Japan produces about 4% of the world’s plastic waste out of which it has the second highest per capita share at 114 kg behind the U.S. (132 kg per capita) according to the UN Environment Programme 2018.

Japan is 2nd in the world (after the USA) in terms of plastic packaging waste per capita

During shopping, an average person uses up to 450 bags / person / year which accounts for normally 30 billion plastic bags / year.

Plastic bags usage for shopping

Japan generated about 9 million tonnes of plastic waste every year out of which it sends around 10% to China. However, China has banned the import of plastic waste in 2017 and since then Japan has seen massive buildup of plastic waste and they started exporting to other countries like Vietnam and Indonesia where the garbage dumping regulations are weak. Since these countries are also not able to manage their own waste, most of the waste end up in oceans. Recent study shows that these countries dump nearly 3.2 million metric tons / year in oceans.

Plastic Waste storage

Recycling truth of plastic waste in Japan

Japan holds the image of high recycling of things which reported 84% recycling rate of the total plastic waste collected. You must be appreciating Japan with those stunning numbers however an important fact which people overlook is that up to 56% of the recycled plastic is burned in incinerators for producing energy. Burning waste to produce energy is productive, but it generates large amount of greenhouse gases leading to bigger problems. Around 28% of plastic waste is processed with chemicals so that they can be reused for industrial purpose. The remaining gets exported to developing nations which already don’t have infrastructure to process their own waste ending up in land-fills or ocean dumping.

What Japanese government is doing to curb plastic pollution?

Just before the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit, Japan announced the adoption of a policy package in May 2019 to reduce plastic waste and emission of greenhouse gases. They proposed to reduce 9 million tonnes of plastic waste / year by 25% by 2030.

• Government implemented a requirement that all retail stores should charge a fee for plastic bags, starting July 1, 2020
• Family mart uses thinner bags to reduce overall plastic by 30%
• Seven Eleven stores started using bio-degradable bags as alternative packaging

Do your Bit – Be the Change

The most important thing is to reduce the overall plastic waste. And since consumer products are major source, a lot we do as a consumer can help reverse the damage.

• Say “NO” to plastic straws, single use plastic bags, over packaged products, plastic cutlery
• Bring your own shopping bag, water bottle, cutlery
• Support brands that use plant based packaging
• Encourage companies to reduce unnecessary plastic use and build production models that reuse and recycle what cannot be eliminated.

Sustainable options

When I was in Japan, I talked to some shopkeepers to start adopting different ways other than plastic bags. They replied that, they actually wanted to do that, however, public will not accept the change as it brings little inconvenience in their lifestyles. We as responsible citizen, have to create awareness in people to adopt sustainable way of living for their better future.

Let’s work together and change the “NOW” for our better sustainable future